Rail treating apparatus



Aug. 13, 1940.

H. H. CERF ET AL RAIL TREATING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 30, 1958 8 Sheets-Sheet l KM ATTORNEY.

Aug. 13, 1940 H. H. CERF ET AL 2,211,365

RAIL TREATING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 30, 1958 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VENTORS MRRVHCERA- co5 CB/P/ TTD/v.

ATTORNEY.

Aug. 13, 1940. H H, CERF ET AL 2,211,365

' RAIL TREATING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 50, 1938 8 Sheets--Sheel 3 INVENTORS HQE/Pr ERE I? ATTORNEY.

Aug. 13, 1940. H. H. CERF Er AL RAIL TREATING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 30, 1938 8 Sheets-Sheet A4 INVENTORS HARRVHCERE Roscof-C/P/rro/v,

Ag. 13, 1940. H` H CERF ET AL 2,211,365

RAIL TREATING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 30, 1958 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Y INVENTOR. ./qR/PVHCERF.' BY Roscoe-CE/wrro/v.

Aug- 13, l940 H. H. CERF Er AL 2,211,365

RAIL TREATING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 30. 1938 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 H ZZ 24 L INVENTORS @1R/@VH CERA- Roscoe- C BR/ rro/v.

Aug. 13, 1940. H. H. CERF ET AL. 2,211,365

RAIL TREATING APPARATUS F'iled Aug.' 50, 1938 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 N /L "1 DI i A l Q & l g@ l t INVENTORS bfqfvRf/HCERH BY Roscoe' CI ER/rro/v.

ATTORNEY.

Aug. 13, 1940.

H. H. CERF ET AL RAIL TREA'IING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 50, 1938 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 mf +S gia: m

INVENTORS Patented Aug. 13, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE Application August 30,

2 Claims.

This invention relates to rail treating apparatus and more particularly to apparatus adapted to cool selected portions of the ends of rails at a rate different from that of the remainder of the rail. Still more particularly the invention aims to provide apparatus adapted to cool rail ends in accordance with the process described and claimed in Brunner Patent #1,896,572.

In copending applications Serial Nos. 209,123, 209,127 and 209,128, each led May 20, 1938, a rail treating furnace adapted to permit the practice of the process of Brunner Re-issue Patent No. 19,884 (1936) is disclosed. The present invention aims to provide in association with the apparatus described and claimed in said copending applications, means adapted to permit the practice of the process of Brunner Patent No. 1,896,572.

In accordance with the latter Brunner patent the head of the rail at and adjacent each end is subjected to an accelerated rate of cooling as compared to the remainder of the rail immediately following the grain refining heat treating of the rail, for the purpose of imparting to this portion of the rail a suicient hardness to resist subsequent deterioration in service known in the art as end batter.

In accordance with the present invention, we provide in' association with the discharge roller table of the apparatus described and claimed in said first mentioned copending application and in operative association with the pantograph spacing means of said last mentioned copending application a means operable independently of the operating and control means for said apparatus of said application which is adapted to accomplish the end cooling result desired, of which the following description and drawings is believed to be a full and complete description.

Fig. 1 is a side elevation in section illustrating the association of the present invention with the apparatus and means .of said copending application; Fig. 2 is an enlarged section taken along plane 2 2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an enlarged top plan View broken in center of the same; Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view broken in center illustrating one feature of the present invention; Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional View broken in center illustrating another feature of the present invention; Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 showing the parts in another operative position; Fig. 7 is an enlarged plan View illustrating another feature of the present invention; Fig. 8 is a perspective view illustrating still another feature of the present invention; Fig. 9 is a plan view simi- 1938, serial No. 227,602

lar to Fig. 7 partly in section to illustrate another feature of the present invention; Fig. 10 is a View along plane lil-I0 of Fig. 9; Fig. 11 is a View along plane lI-I l of Fig. 9; Fig. 12 is a side elevation oi a rail end treated in the apparatus of the present invention; Fig. 13 is an end view of the same; Fig. 14 is a top plan View enlarged illustrating another feature of the present invention; Fig. 15 is a section taken along plane |5-l 5 of Fig. 14; and Fig. 16 is another of the same.

Referring to the drawings, it is desiredbymeans of the apparatus of the present invention to provide means to harden simultaneously the head of one or a plurality of rails at each end to a determined degree and in the manner substantially as indicated in Figs. 12 and 13. In accordance with the inventions described and claimed in said copending applications, a plurality of rails r in side spaced relation are periodically discharged endwise at the normalizing temperature from furnace F (Fig. 1) onto discharge roller table T and carried therealong by rotation of rollers R until the forward end of each rail engages disappearing stop S. The plurality of rails are then gathered together sideways and are re-located in determined side spaced relation by pantograph spacing means P in preparation for the practice of the end cooling step of the said Brunner process.

'Ihe horizontally located side spaced rails on roller table T are then to be end hardened by the rapid cooling of the heads of the rails at and adjacent each end by the means or apparatus illustrated in the drawings. This means or apparatus essentially comprises a plurality of hoods H, one for each end of the rail, means to locate said hoods I-I in spaced horizontal alignment adjacent opposite ends of the roller table T with the spacing of the hoods H corresponding to the spacing between the heads h of rails r lying on their sides on roller table T, means to advance and to retract the hoods I-I into engagement with the rail head at each rail end, means also to simultaneously advance and retract a block member, one for each rail end, adapted to engage the base b of the rail at each rail end, and means to supply a pressure of air through the said hoods during the time interval of contact of the hood with the rail head.

As a specific embodiment of the present invention, we have illustrated the hood advancing and retracting means as consisting essentially of a rock shaft l-l disposed horizontally adjacent each end of roller table T between bearing supports B-B (B'-B) mounted on the base A of table T. It is preferable to sustain rock shafts I-l in a horizontal position below the roller surface of table T, substantially in the manner shown for the reason hoods H mounted thereon in spaced horizontal relation can be moved below the roller surface, thereby removing the hoods from interfering position with rails 1' being delivered thereon from furnace F.

Rock shafts l-I' are each provided with a lever arm L and means, such as air cylinders C-C, to actuate said rock shafts I-i simultaneously through a determined degree of rotation towards and away from the said rail ends. Separate means C-C may be provided, as indicated, for each rock shaft l-I coupled in any known and convenient manner for simultaneous actuation, or alternatively a common actuating means may be provided, ir desired.

The manner of mounting hoods H and block means D upon rock shafts l-l may be varied widely without departure from the present invention. In the arrangement shown in the drawings, the hoods H and blocks D are located in determined or substantially fixed spaced relation horizontally, corresponding to the spacing of the rail ends, with means being provided to shift or adjust each hood H and block D in a direction at right angles to the axis of the shaft i and in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the rails 1' when the hood H and block D are in full advanced position and in engagement with the rail end. As the rail section and height may vary somewhat, we provide a plurality of blocks D, each adapted to engage a different type or section rail base, thereby obviating excessive adjustments due to variations in rail heights being treated in the apparatus.

In mounting hoods H and blocks D on rock shafts I-l it is preferable to employ a counterbalanced assembly, as indicated in the drawings, thereby to reduce the energy required to rotate shafts l-I through the determined degree of rotation, and it is also preferable to provide means whereby the entire counterbalanced assembly of hoods H and blocks D can be horizontally shifted along the shafts l--l to obtain perfect alignment of the hoods H and blocks D with the rail ends.

These advantages are all provided in the apparatus as shown. Shafts l-l extend the entire width of roller table T and are supported upon the base A of the table T in bearing supports B-B (B-B). Counterweights W-W are secured on shafts l-i respectively and hood and block supporting means E--E secured onto the counterweights W-W' respectively in a manner providing for movement of the supporting means E--E horizontally along weights VV-VV (as indicated in Fig. 6) and means, such as adjustable nut and bolt arrangement F-F (Fig. 3), is provided to shift or move each hood and block supporting means E-E horizontally and endwise along the counterweights W-W and shafts i-l supporting the same, to obtain perfect alignment with the rails.

Hood and block supporting means E-E consists essentially in a base plate p provided with flange extensions f-f adapted to slidably engage and seat within recesses g-g on counterweights W-W, the extent of engagement providing for the support of the means E-E thereon in a position eectively counterbalanced by the heavy section of counterweights W-W'. Base plate E-E is provided with shoulder plate (e-e) adapted to provide means to secure bracket l thereto by means of bolts Il in determined horizontal spaced relation corresponding to the spacing of the heads of the rails r on table T, along the upper face of base plate p. The upper surface of base plate p intermediate brackets l0 is provided with means I2 providing for the mounting of blocks D on the base plate p.

air is permitted to escape substantially as indicated to impinge at a determined angle of incidence onto the rail end. The top of nozzle I5 is provided with a vent opening permitting the air to pass through the nozzle substantially as indicated in Fig. 9.

Nozzle l5 is pivotally mounted on a cylindrical shaped base 29 by means of bolt 2f. The cylindrical base 2B is provided with n or tongue extensions 22 on opposite sides which are adapted to engage within and seat in recesses 24 in bracket i@ secured to shoulder plate e on base plate p by bolts il. Cylinder base 2G is provided with spring means 23 providing for movement of the cylinder endwise within recesses 211 against the spring pressure, and n extensions 22 being cut away a determined amount and bolt means 25 being provided to limit the extent of the movement of the cylinder to within determined limits. This endwise movement of cylinder 2S is essential for several reasons; to take up slight differences in rail lengths, for example, and to provide means to obtain spring pressed engagement of the end of nozzle l5 onto the top of the rail head to prevent the escape of air inwardly along the rail head, and also to provide means to engage spring plate 25 against the rail end thereby preventing the escape of air along the rail end towards the base of the rail.

The means for mounting blocks D on base plate p also may be varied widely without departure from the present invention. With simultaneous actuation of rock shafts lwith consequent simultaneous engagement of hoods H with the rail heads, means must be provided to simultaneously engage the ends of the rail at the bases b to insure accurate aligning of the rails on the roller table T. Pantograph means P obtains substantially accurate alignment of the rails, but a certain amount of discrepancy exists which must be provided against.

Accordingly, blocks D are shaped. substantially as indicated in Figs. 14 to 16 inclusive, to provide a trough 30 having a fanned out end which is adapted to cover or span the widest discrepancy in rail location probably to be encountered as a result of the operation of pantograph means P. As will be apparent from the drawings with advancement of the block D towards the rail end, the base section of the rail end will enter the fanned out portion of groove 30 and ultimately the rail end is displaced on the roller table T suciently to permit the base to enter the unfanned section of the groove 3B. This section of the groove is spaced a determined distance from the hood H so that upon clamping spring pressed engagement of the rail head by hood H, the rail end is tightly gripped therebetween. With different rail sections and rail heights different blocks D must be employed, consequently the means for mounting the blocks D upon base plate pl must provide for ready detachment and ready attachment of blocks D thereto.V

In the arrangement shown, blocks D are mounted by an interlocking tongue and groove arrangement upon plate 3l anchored securely onto base plate p by means of bolts 32. Plate 3i and block D are provided with interlocking tongue and grooves 35i substantially as indicated in Fig. 16 to provide ior the ready engagement and disengagement of the parts, and means such as shou.- ders 34 may be provided to limit the movement of block D onto plate 3l. Means to secure the block D on plate 3l may be provided, if desired, but in the arrangement shown is not necessary.

From the above description of the present invention it may be readily perceived that upon actuation of rock shafts l-l by air cylinders C--C operating through lever arms L-L, the counterbalanced assembly including the hoods H and blocks D can be rotated into engagement and out of engagement with the ends of the rails r located in horizontal side-spaced relation on roller table T. Hoods H are supplied With air under pressure by flexible hose connections 35 connected with air main M (Fig. 2). The operation of air cylinders C is preferably arranged to be simultaneous and under the control of an operator, and the arrangement found most preferable is to control the time interval of application of the air to the cylinders C and hoods I-I by means of a time relay device, common to the art, which is adjustable so that the interval may be varied Within limits determined by the extent of end cooling desired. Means also common to the art are provided to vary the air pressure in hoods I-I Within determined limits to provide greater flexibility in the cooling rate of the rail end. Each of these latter means is common in the art, and although to be understood as included by the present invention, need not be more particularly described or illustrated for those skilled in the art to understand or to apply.

Having described the present invention and given a description and illustrated one specific embodiment of the same, it is apparent that many modifications may be made therein Without departing essentially from the nature and scope thereof as may be included Within the scope of the accompanying claims:

'What We claim is:

l. In combination a roller table, means to position a plurality of rails in side spaced relation and in end alignment on said roller table, a plurality of cooling hoods one for each rail end, each said hood being adapted to seat upon and to enclose the head of the rail for a determined distance inwardly from the end of the rail, a plurality of base engaging means, one for each rail end, means to pivotally sustain the said hoods and the said base engaging means horizontally adjacent opposite sides of said roller table in spaced relation corresponding to the spaced relation of said rails, means to actuate each said pivotally sustaining means simultaneously to move the said hoods and base engaging means into engagement and out of engagement simultaneously with the opposite rail ends, and means to circulate a cooling uid through each said hood during the time interval of engagement of the hood with the said rail end.

' shafts in spaced relation corresponding' to the spaced relation of said rails in a position adapted to bring the hoods and the base engaging means into engagement With'the said rail ends in full advanced rotation of the shaft and out of engagement With said rail ends and below the Surface of said roller table in full reverse rotation of said rock shaft.

HARRY I-I. CERF'.

ROSCOE C. BRITION. 

